Our nourishment needs for a plant-centered diet are for life. Supplements might be necessary, but they never replace nourishing food.

Try to eat foods that have an abundance of complex carbohydrates, for example: oats with cinnamon, rice and mashed mung beans, polenta with peas, cooked quinoa over fruit salad, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Daikon radishes, sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, apples, grapes, beans, lentils, almonds, walnuts, to name a few. Not only are they loaded with complex carbohydrates, but they also have antioxidants, vitamins, trace minerals, and hundreds of unnamed phytochemicals that assist us in ways still unknown. Their great variety in flavor, color, texture, fiber and water content make them a treasure to explore.

Experiment with any of these foods: baked kabocha squash with sweet potato and cashews, then blend them with some water and almond milk. Stir fry kale with garlic and coconut milk, strain it if necessary. Or roast cauliflower seasoned with cumin and lemon juice. Try mung beans or lentils with bok choy for a stew that is easy to digest. Season everything to taste.

Keep in mind that excess body fat can be an obstacle to healing. We turn the complex carbohydrates of food into sugar, which we burn to get energy. Excess carbohydrates get turned into fat. We need a zero balance of calories-in and calories-burned to maintain a healthy weight.

We need more carbohydrates, than protein or fat, even during times of extreme stress like recovering from an accident, healing from burns, or during chemotherapy. Meet with a professional who can help you calculate your current needs for protein and fat in order to repair, replace, and regenerate during this difficult time.

Most of all, if you are able, eat an abundance of whole foods in a great variety of colors every day.